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Harbor Freight Router Bits?

Has anyone used Harbor Freight router bits? I have purchased some of their tools, but have resisted the urge to save $10 to $15 dollars on a router bit.
I was looking for something like this to recess the rear of a baffle for better driver breathing:http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66636
But something tells me that spending only $5 for something spinning that fast that close to my face is just asking for trouble.
Any closet HF router bit purchasers here?

Re: Harbor Freight Router Bits?

I have a whole set of them (well, most of a set), and they're not horrible, but they do tend to break when they get hot. I've snapped two different straight bits, but that was likely my fault for digging too deep with them out of impatience.

That chamfer bit works pretty well, though, I used it on the center channel speaker that I built a little while ago, and it did just fine for me.

Re: Harbor Freight Router Bits?

I have a set and it has held up through two pairs of ZDT3.5s and a sub, and they still seem to have life left in them. I did break the straight bit when I was cutting through the double thickness baffle for the sub. But that was entirely my fault. I had it way down in the MDF and it had to be too hot.

Re: Harbor Freight Router Bits?

Thanks for the responses, I need to pick one up tomorrow so I can keep going on this project and if you guys told me they were junk, I'd have to hit up Home Depot or Sears for substantially more $$$.

Mark, what happens when they break? I haven't had one snap yet, I imagine hot sharp metal shrapnel flying everywhere!

TomZ

Hia. I've been a professional woodworker for about 18 years now and broke a few router bits in my lifetime.
Most of the time the bit will just snap off and fall on the ground. Of cause it depends on the size of the bit, your router and how fast are you pushing. If you aren't in a hurry, there's very little chance of the bit itself failing. Mostly it happens because of overheating and bearing failure(which causes even more overheating). Carbide bits last longer and I suspect(based on the price) this particular bits will have very thin layer of carbide.The danger may be that it will snap(carbide) off more easily (I am speculating here). Yes it has happened a few times. Carbide does brake off. I suggest a full face shield not just the goggles, of cause ear plugs as well.
CMT, Amana, Freud make excellent bits. You could find them at the discount price from the local sharpeners who carry a line of standard or custom woodworking tools. It will not be $5 for sure but good tool is a good tool.
I've used Whiteside a few times and found that their bearings were very prone to failure.

Re: Harbor Freight Router Bits?

Originally Posted by r-carpenter

Hia. I've been a professional woodworker for about 18 years now and broke a few router bits in my lifetime.
Most of the time the bit will just snap off and fall on the ground. Of cause it depends on the size of the bit, your router and how fast are you pushing. If you aren't in a hurry, there's very little chance of the bit itself failing. Mostly it happens because of overheating and bearing failure(which causes even more overheating). Carbide bits last longer and I suspect(based on the price) this particular bits will have very thin layer of carbide.The danger may be that it will snap(carbide) off more easily (I am speculating here). Yes it has happened a few times. Carbide does brake off. I suggest a full face shield not just the goggles, of cause ear plugs as well.
CMT, Amana, Freud make excellent bits. You could find them at the discount price from the local sharpeners who carry a line of standard or custom woodworking tools. It will not be $5 for sure but good tool is a good tool.
I've used Whiteside a few times and found that their bearings were very prone to failure.

I also have been making furniture for 25 + years, I have had a few bits break as well the carbide break off and that has gone flying through the air. I always wear safety glasses and a full face shield and ear plugs, you can never not have enough protection when it comes to your eyes! Amana and Freud are excellent bits and yes they cost more but in the end you get what you pay for.

Re: Harbor Freight Router Bits?

I bought one of those. It works fine in my mill, but it won't fit in my 3 HP Ryobi router. (OD tips would hit tabs on ID of the mounting plate.) Just check before you buy. As has been said before, something this big you should dial down the speed and take progressive cuts.

Re: Harbor Freight Router Bits?

Well, Harbor Freight didn't have the bit I was originally looking at, so Sears had a 1/4" bit for $20. I'm glad I didn't get the 1/2" one like I usually do, because my big Ryobi router just gave up the ghost on me.